This might be a fall book tag, but it’s winter here in Athens. It’s been raining for two days straight, there are sharp winds and lots of cold. I hope, during the next week we get our fall back. Nevertheless, this is a great excuse for fluffy socks, hot beverages and kitty cuddles!

The whole summer was a dry spell for my writing and my reading but as September uncurled and I came back from vacation everything felt a little better, a little brighter. This why when I saw yesterday this tag at Adventures of a Book Reader, (which was created by Tall Tales) I thought it would be a cozy way to sneak my way back into blogging. What better way of diving into reading again than remembering what makes you love books in the first place?

This past year I’ve been submitting more on the short story front and, as a result, I’ve been reading more, too. It is a whole new world of writing and wording and beautiful worlds and there is a short story for every one out there.

I will try to do this more often, but for now, here are some of the short speculative stories I’ve read last year and have stayed with me.

As we’re sailing through the last hours of 2017, I wish you all a new year with health, kindness and creativity. Stay strong, don’t be hard on yourself and take good care of you. Tell the people you care about that you love them, let your face soak in the sunshine when it’s possible, and visit new places even if they’re in walking distance.

Let those who hurt you behind and create something new with your hands; a meal, a doodle, a hat. Make other people smile and listen to your favorite songs again and again. Buy a plant, blow up a balloon!

Offer a helping hand to those who need it and don’t be afraid to ask for one in those moments that everything seems impossible and you feel alone. Take pride for you accomplishments, you worked hard, but don’t forget to acknowledge your privilege, too, and be thankful.